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Responses of leaf physiological and biochemical characteristics to exogenous abscisic acid application under drought stress: a meta-analysis

Du Xiang-Bing1,Li Wang-Cheng1,2,3,*,Zhao Zi-Bo1,Lyu Hang1,He Lei1,Li Jia-Wen1   

  1. 1 School of Civil and Hydraulic Engineering, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, Ningxia, China; 2 Engineering Research Center of the Ministry of Education for Efficient Utilization of Modern Agricultural Water Resources in Dry Areas, Yinchuan 750021, Ningxia, China; 3 Ningxia Yellow River Water Internet Digital Water Management Key Laboratory, Yinchuan 750021, Ningxia, China
  • Received:2026-01-08 Revised:2026-08-21 Accepted:2026-08-21 Published:2026-08-26
  • Supported by:
    This study was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2021YFD1900600), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (52169010), the First-Class Discipline Construction Project of Ningxia Higher Education Institutions (NXYLXK2021A03), and the Top Young Talents Training Program of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (Phase III) (032503060192).

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Abstract:

 Exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) is a key hormone regulating crop drought resistance; however, a quantitative and systematic evaluation of its effects under drought stress remains lacking. In this study, a meta-analysis was conducted using 321 paired observations from 70 published studies worldwide to quantitatively characterize the regulatory effects of exogenous ABA on leaf physiological and biochemical traits in crops under drought stress, including relative water content (RWC), chlorophyll content (Chl), stomatal conductance (Gs), malondialdehyde (MDA), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). A random forest model was employed to identify potentially important moderators, and regression analysis combined with subgroup analysis was further applied to validate their importance. The results showed that, compared with the drought-stressed control, exogenous ABA application significantly increased leaf RWC (effect size I = 10.45%, P < 0.05) and Chl content (I = 14.60%), and significantly decreased Gs (I = ?11.44%), MDA (I = ?17.94%), and H2O2 content (I = ?10.74%). The random forest model identified treatment duration, soil relative water content, ABA concentration, application method, and crop type as potentially important moderators of ABA effects, with treatment duration having the highest relative importance for RWC and Chl, at 32.6% and 36.3%, respectively. Regression analysis further revealed significant concentration-dependent responses of RWC, Chl, MDA, and H2O2 to exogenous ABA; the promoting effect on RWC was significantly positively correlated with soil RWC, while the effect was observed for H2O2 regulation was significantly time-dependent (P < 0.05). Overall, rational application of exogenous ABA under drought stress can effectively improve leaf water status and photosynthetic performance while alleviating oxidative damage in crops. These effects can be synergistically regulated by optimizing ABA application strategies in combination with field management practices. This study provides a quantitative reference for the regulation of crop leaf physiological and biochemical responses by exogenous abscisic acid under drought stress.

Key words: exogenous abscisic acid, drought stress, leaf physiological characteristics, meta-analysis, random forest model

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